Word Count: 2221

~Sienna

An overwhelming sense of déjà vu overcomes me as I face down the front door.

This isn't the first time I've travelled a great distance return to this manor. It stands now, imposing and yet so aching familiar. I love everything about this place. This is my home.

And now I'm desperate to see my mate.

I give the guard that escorted me home a parting nod before I press through the large double doors, letting the great hall usher me in.

Nothing has changed in the months I've been gone.

I can scent Onyx all over the place, soothing a deep ache that has settled into my stomach since I first left. It makes me want to bound through the manor looking for him.

Before I can take a step, a curious voice floats through the hall.

"Sienna?"

I turn to my right, Alex emerging from the linked corridor that leads to the kitchen and staff quarters. She stops in her tracks, her pale eyes widening as if she's seen a ghost.

"Oh Alex," I breathe, the crushing weight of having had to part from those I care about bearing down on me. "I missed you so much."

We collide in the centre, her arms banding around me so tightly I fear she's about to cut off my breathing.

She came here to be Lucia's assistant, a gift from Onyx to me so I could have another friendly face around. We barely got a few days together before I was taken by Zion.

"You're home...how is this possible?" She clutches my arms, pulling back enough to survey me.

"I escaped," I explain, looking down at my mud stained clothing that is wrinkled and ripped in one place. "Alston turned on me...it's bad. I had no other choice but to come here."

She sighs through her nose, her expression turning grave. I'm sure she has plenty of questions, but it's clear she doesn't want to overwhelm me.

"You did the right thing. We've all missed you so much, you have no idea." She pulls me in for another hug.

I grimace so she pulls away quickly. My thighs are aching from my endless ride and I'm so sleep addled I'm uneasy on my feet. The trip through Maren's pack and into Onyx's was long and overcome with unease.

If Alex didn't know I was escaped, it's unlikely Zion has come to Lucia and Onyx demanding me back. Assuming Alston told him everything, he will now know he has no claim to me.

But I doubt he will restrain from striking back soon.

"Where is Onyx?" I ask softly, noting the unusual quietness settled over the manor.

"He's not here at the moment. He's been spending time on the border looking for information on a potential son Zion has," Alex responds. "The one who has been leaving you threatening messages..."

Of course he is. He promised he would try to find answers, and because he has no idea I've escaped, he's gone off looking for them.

Alex looks at one of the guards posted near the door, clicking her fingers to gain his attention. "Can word be sent to Onyx that his mate is here, please?"
 
He bows his head. "It's already done."

"Thank you." I smile tightly.

The guard that escorted me here must have dealt with that. Hopefully that means Onyx is rushing home as we speak.

"Come sit down." Alex grabs my arm, leading me into the formal sitting room. "Everyone is going to want to see you."

I've complained every time I've sat on the piece of furniture I now sink into, but now, my aching body welcomes it. Lucia will have some works to say about me smearing dirt across the luxurious upholstery, but I can hardly find it in myself to care.

For a moment I allow the tension to bleed from my muscles. The midday sun is buttery and warm, spearing through the window before pooling across the floor and furniture. Fresh stems of flowers are perched in vases, their scents caressing my senses.

I'm home. Truly and finally home.

Even in spite of my relief, there is the pressing reminder that this isn't over yet.

"I'm scared, Alex. I feel like I'm bringing war to this Pack," I admit warily, brushing my knotted hair away from my face.

"War has always been brewing, Sienna. If Zion does push the issue on Onyx, then it is what it is," she muses, shrugging as if it means nothing at all. "You're safe, and that's what matters right now."

I nod numbly, casting a look around. I still feel as though I'm in another reality, unbelieving that I truly escaped successfully.

"I missed this place so much," I murmur.

"So why did Alston turn on you? Did he hurt you?" Alex asks. She sits in the opposite chair to me, reaching her hand out so I can hold it for support.

"No, but..."

I drift off as a man strolls up to the door, leaning against the frame as he takes us both in.

I'm immediately struck by a distant sense of familiarity. He has a thick head of light brown curls, all evenly styled, and he wears the buttons of his shirt done up all the way.

"Oh, Sienna." Alex stands, sweeping over to him. "I know this is a terrible time, but I want to introduce you to Christian, my boyfriend."

My brows raise. Wow, I truly have missed out on so much. My friend has started a relationship, and I haven't been here to support her, to hear all about it.

"It's lovely to meet you," Christian greets as I stand to shake his hand.

His dark eyes are perusing over my body, taking in the state of my clothing and wrists flecked with tiny red nicks from when I smashed through the glass window at Zion's. His brows press together, but he doesn't appear overly bothered.

"You too." I shake his hand, trying not to grimace at the mud caked under my nails. "Have we met before?"

I must have seen him before...I've never gotten out much in my life, so when someone is familiar to me, I usual don't struggle as I do now to place them.
 
His smile is strained. "I don't imagine so."

"He worked for Maren at one point, so you may have seen him at one of her parties," Alex explains hastily, wrapping her arm around his.

I blink. "Huh."

My friend is clinging to his stiff form, gazing up at him through icy blonde eyelashes. He just stares at me, indecipherable emotions making a diverse habitat in his eyes.

"I've heard you've been through a lot."

"Maybe now isn't the best time to talk about it." Alex pats his arm, shotting me an apologetic look. "I'm sure she would love some rest."

As much as I would love to crawl under the covers right now, I can't dismiss Alex and Christian when I've only just started speaking to them. I've missed out on so much already, and admittedly, something about Christian is unsettling.

"First you need to tell me how you two met." I clasp my hands together, forcing a smile.

"It's kind of funny actually," Alex begins. "Christian was applying for a job here as a personal guard, and I was interviewing him for the position. He spent the entire time flirting with me, and although that didn't get him the job, it did get him a date with me."

"I call it a success," Christian adds, smiling down at her. The warmth of the smile doesn't reach his blustery eyes.

I wonder what sort of feeling Onyx got about this man. I'm sure my doubt is coming from my exhaustion, or perhaps the fact that my trust has been stamped in the dirt by someone I thought I knew recently.

"That's wonderful. I'm so glad you're happy, Alex," I say softly, meaning every word. She deserves as much.

Her smile begins to trend downward. "It's hard to be happy when my best friend has been kidnapped by a megalomaniac and is being kept against her will."

Christian frowns at her. "Megalomaniac? That's a bit harsh, isn't it?"

I open my mouth, but press it closed again, uncertain of what to say. I haven't met a single soul in this pack who has ever balked at the thought of Zion being referred to as anything other than evil.

"Christian...why would you say that?" Alex's eyes dart to me, embarrassment the colour of crimson pooling in her cheeks.

"It's okay," I say dismissively, pressing down my edge of uncertainty. "There's a lot of words that describe my father, and none of them are favourable. He is a violent, unpredictable man who hurt my mother."

Christian's eyes darken, a muscle feathering in his jaw. "You don't see him as a father?"
 
I laugh roughly. "Not even a little bit."

I've been without one for so much of my life — and for what he was there for, he may as well have been absent — that I don't yearn for paternal comfort. I'm satisfied enough with every other aspect of my life.

"Family is so important, and you're an orphan," Zion brings up, the cut of his voice stirring my nerves. "You must want a family."

"I have a family. Diane, the head chef here raised me after my mother died, and Lucia has always been there for me," I respond curtly. "Now, I also have Onyx and Alex. What more could I want?"

I'm not truly to be rude, for Alex's sake. There is, however, something off about this man.

His expression turns blistering, but in an instance he sobers. His hand slithers around Alex's back, rubbing it tenderly before pulling away.

"You two enjoy your catch up."

I watch him go, making a mental note to speak to him again to ascertain his intentions with my friend soon.

"Sorry about that...he's never acted that way before," Alex excuses, scratching the back of her neck. She appears truly bewildered.

"That's alright," I assure her, not wanting to upset her prematurely.

The sound of heels clicking against the marble floor draws our attention. Lucia stalks past, her head turning to barely glance into the sitting room. She doubles back when she sees me, her skin draining of colour.

"Sienna?"

A rush of emotions expand in my chest. As grateful as I am to see her, I'm also afraid...I'm afraid she will tell me to leave, or she will resent me for bringing danger to the door of her sons pack.

"I'm so sorry...I needed to escape," I rush to say as she advances on me.

"Sorry? Don't be sorry." She pulls me into a hug, her breath brushing against my cheek. She smells like her familiar perfume and her clothing feels as lavish as ever. "How did you get away?"
 
"It's an impossibly long story," I say as I pull away. "Alston discarded the terms of the agreement and planned on keeping me locked up in Zion's manor till the end of time."

I can't even voice everything else Zion and Alston likely would have done to me. I've barely allowed myself to consider it.

The flash of anger in Lucia's eyes is palpable. "Good thing you escaped when you did then."

She is not overly emotional about it, but it's clear she feels for me. All I've ever wanted is her approval, for her to see me as good enough for her son. It's clear to me now she's seen me as more than that — as an extension of her own family.

"What about war? Have you heard anything from Zion?" I ask nervously.

"Nothing yet, although I imagine he's plotting something." She sighs roughly, shaking her head. "Never mind that right now, you look exhausted and in desperate need of a bath."

"I am...I could sleep for days," I admit, smiling weakly.

"Onyx will be on his way, I'm sure. He should only be a few hours away if I had to guess, so by the time you wake he should be here," Lucia assures me, rubbing my arm tenderly while trying to avoid the worst of the muck clinging to my clothing.

"I'm anxious to see him." So anxious, in fact, that I'm practically giddy. I haven't seen him in our own home since I was taken.

I'm more than ready to be alone with him. To breathe him in and feel his touch.

"You have no idea how happy he will be to have you back," Alex adds. "We all are."

I squeeze both of their hands before backing to the door. "I'm going to see Diane then head to bed."

And when I wake, I hope I'll be in Onyx's arms again.

❤️••❤️

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